A recently released study by the Pew Research Center proposes a connection between the rising cost of child care and the increase in stay-at-home moms. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual  “Who’s Minding the Kids”  report, child care costs have jumped 70% between 1986 and 2011.

Child Care costs rise 70% between 1986 and 2011

The data changes the perception that mothers stay at home because they want to, or that their partner’s income is sufficient for the family’s needs. WECA Executive Director Ruth Schmidt recently spoke to the cost of care in a recent interview on WKOW with reporter Jennifer Kliese.